Bassey Ubong @ St. Stephen’s African Church Cathedral, Uyo. April 2019 Jesus of Nazareth was a philosopher of the realist school of thought, a school identified more with Aristotle of Greece. Realism looks at life ‘the way it is’ rather than ‘the way it should be’ which is the preoccupation of idealist philosophers led by […]
THE ART AND ACT OF THANKSGIVING
Being Text of a Speech by Sir Bassey Ubong (KSS) at the 2009 Annual Thanksgiving Service of the Life & Power Gospel Ministry, Omoku, November 29, 2009 Introduction Ps 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.” Let us share the song, […]
“The Jesus Christ Phenomenon as a Study in Realism.”
The historical Jesus the Christ is a phenomenon which will continue to excite studies and generate controversy for all time because it has dozens of perspectives including Jesus as the quintessence of realism. In philosophy, realism implies the existence of an objective world independent of the mind, a world of the practical and material as […]
“On Karma.” Part 2.
There are several thought provoking definitions of karma but I prefer the one by K. Taimni in 1974. Karma, he says, “is nothing but the law of Cause and Effect operating in the realm of human life and bringing about adjustments between an individual and other individuals whom he has affected by his thoughts, emotions, […]
The Real Essence of Religion. Part 1
If we stand on the principle that we are all hardwired for religion whereby we believe in the existence and power of a Supreme Deity and subordinate deities, we should ask what the essence of all the effort and trouble is. From the Christian angle the book of Matthew 22 verses 36-40 appear to summarize […]
Churches in Corporate Evolution
Can we conceive of the possibility of church mergers? Some folks may consign this question to be science fiction. But sci-fi predictions of just twenty years ago are now a reality. For instance, the role of social media in societies and the possibility of control of the world by information communication technology companies were considered […]
Are human beings hardwired for religion?” Part 2
Why should highly educated people exhibit behaviours which generate shock and disbelief when religious issues are concerned? How should violence on people who hold different religious views be explained? When people carry out irrational acts on matters of religion how can such acts be justified or at least explained? Scientists say certain human behaviours in […]
“Are Human Beings Hardwired for Religion?” (1)
I had concluded a topic for this Sunday but the trending issue in the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto made me consider a piece on above topic. Why should highly educated, highly placed, and highly exposed people act in ways too difficult to explain once religion becomes an issue? Incidentally, the lesson today where […]
The still small voice
Every human being hears ‘voices’ in the journey through life, some loud, some low. Both the loud and the low can be useful, but it appears as it did in the case of Prophet Elijah, the ‘whisper’ turns out to be the better one in critical conditions. So, it should be anyway. Show me one […]
‘Secret Societies:’ The Quest Continues
I read a recent post by one Ata Ikiddeh of Akwa Ibom ‘Diaspora’ on the age-old controversy regarding secret societies. Once upon a time it went like wildfire throughout Nigeria from the Federal Civil Service to churches to peer groups. There was a frenzy as people searched for members of the ‘fraternities’ for the purpose […]